It’s a bit of fun, but we need to be honest about ‘BNOC’

The annual BNOC competition, inspired by Warwick Grapevine and now hosted by the renowned Warwick Tea, is obviously a bit of fun… I would be the first to admit that. On the surface, it’s a quintessential Warwick tradition which thrives every year and brings fun to campus. For those less informed about the inner workings of Warwick student sanctimony, it’s basically an annual ‘competition’ where students from across campus and beyond can nominate themselves and others for the mighty title of ‘Biggest Name on Campus’: a supposedly tongue-in-cheek medal of honour celebrating popularity, social media presence, and more.

But, in recent years, without mentioning names, the BNOC competition has become viewed (and used) by some candidates as more than a tongue-in-cheek success, and rather like a lifetime achievement award equivalent to that seen at the Oscars and the BAFTAs. Many would argue ‘so they should’, and we are all free to do what we like, but I fear that BNOCs are perhaps attributing too much weight to the jovial title.

It’s time for an honest conversation about the BNOC competition and how it has become somewhat too serious. ‘BNOC’ is no longer just a fun assessment of campus popularity, but instead a reflection that some people will do anything… literally anything… to be (and in some cases remain) The BNOC.

Campaigning for some candidates has become far too serious… I’m sure many at Warwick can accept a few story posts here and there to ‘rally the troops,’ but some candidates have well and truly been making this an electoral campaign

Let’s start with how serious it has become. There is the undeniable reality that some who have nominated themselves in recent years have been ‘in it to win it’ from the start, aware of the benefit that their hyper-involvement in societies or social media following can bring. Essentially, what I’m trying to say is that for some candidates, what was once a humorous competition has been turned into a calculated performance and mobilisation of their followers, akin to a political campaign.

The increasing seriousness of the BNOC competition can also be seen in how much value some candidates are placing on the title. With stories and comments aimed at securing votes, as well as the repeated use of the title entirely seriously after winning, many across campus may be starting to feel that BNOC winners and runners-up who overuse it have become attached to the fame the competition once gave them. By all means, use the title… but don’t treat it as though it counts for anything actually important!

In a similar vein, campaigning for some candidates has become far too serious… I’m sure many at Warwick can accept a few story posts here and there to ‘rally the troops’, but some candidates have well and truly been making this an electoral campaign, which pulls unnecessarily on emotions. One candidate in the most recent 2026 BNOC campaigned on wanting to raise awareness for mental health, implying that people should vote for them if they support raising awareness for mental health, rather than if they found the candidate popular and likeable. Similarly, comments from candidates after losing, in which they thank supporters as though it were an awards ceremony, reflect a similar notion that some are viewing it as more grandiose than light-hearted fun.

I think it’s time to acknowledge that the BNOC competition has recently put a number of people on a pedestal that they are struggling to let go of

I am probably coming across as incredibly hypercritical, but perhaps my criticism comes more from how some treat and prolong their relative success in the competition. I think it’s time to acknowledge that the BNOC competition has recently put a number of people on a pedestal that they are struggling to let go of. In this sense, it has perhaps also been used by some candidates as a springboard and encouragement to run in bigger, more serious elections.

Rootes Debauchery on Instagram summarised what I’m trying to say in a meme of Chef Skinner from Ratatouille getting angry, with the caption “BNOCs realising their degrees don’t have ‘got a load of followers during Freshers’ on them”. As light-hearted a critique as this article has been, it does raise the notion that many may be starting to view the overuse of BNOC titles as unnecessary and perhaps even annoying. A key theme that some candidates are certainly using ‘BNOC success’ for purposes beyond fun is becoming increasingly prevalent.

Perhaps it’s time future candidates reconsider what the purpose of the BNOC competition is meant to be: fun, jovial rivalry, and at the end of the day… not that serious.

Disclaimer: This article is in no way intended to be a critique of all past, recent, and future BNOC candidates. My critique comes instead from how some candidates in recent years are perhaps taking the competition too seriously.